san diego--business/client dinner

I'm staying at the Marriott Coronado and need a restaurant outside the hotel, but not far away from the hotel, for a dinner with clients (there will be four of us). We are all from New York, but are open to anything from pure steak to Italian to good seafood to most anything else. looking for upscale in these categories. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Take the water taxi over from your hotel over to the Gaslamp or Shelter Island..

Bali Hai..Shelter Island Jsix at the Hotel SolamarGrant Grill at the US Grant HotelCowboy StarTop of the Market at the Fish Market downtown or drinks and shrimp cocktails on their bayfront patio.Island Prime for drinks and app'sPoint Loma Seafood for lunch..great scallop or calamari sandwichHotel Del Coronado for brunch at the Crown room.Sapori for Italian in CoronadoCandelas Coronado for happy hour

Head into La Jolla at George's Modern or Eddie V's..drinks at Marine Room at sunset.

IMHO, I think the food tastes exactly the same at all of the locations (which means it is good, but lacking in many respects, having said that - I am particularly picky). However, I feel that the service is great, and the atmosphere in Coronado is beautiful and very conducive to business. Great bar for pre-dinner cocktails or after dinner drinks! La Jolla location is closing sometime between next week and August 1st (they are not sure when the new occupant's deal with the landlord will go through).

The more I think about it, I would head to the Hotel Del Coronado and dine at 1500 Ocean..I'm sure the hotel shuttle bus would take you and then call for pick up.True elegance of the Grande Dame and then stroll the outside boardwalk and then a night cap at the piano bar and sing along to Mack the Knife.

Around these-here parts I'm known for my low standards and pedestrian tastes- a good think to keep in mind when considering my suggestion:

Il Fornaio.

The sound you now hear and the internet-slowing surge of traffic are Chowhounds everywhere firing up their keyboards to blast away at this suggestion. It's a CHAIN! they'd type- Faux Italian!- a single step from the Cheesecake Factory!

Truth is, I've always had a nice meal there, the room is great, reasonably quiet and the view is beautiful.

Sure- 1500 Ocean is very eleganté and probably a better meal, but I found it a little on the stuffy and self-important side. And despite what BC suggests, I've rarely found a post-dinner romantic stroll around the Grand Old Lady to be very business-like.

Il Fornaio isn't outstanding or very authentic but one of the better Italian inspired restaurants in San Diego and a good option for Coronado. (This also tells a lot about the quality of Italian restaurants in SD).

My husband and I have had quite a few indolent lunches at Il Fornaio, gazing at the view, side by side, with an Italian red in our hands. Is it the best food? No. But it feels like dining out. And once, when we had something substandard, they made a great apology,offered us a replacement gratis, and when we demurred, they then gave us a discount on the meal-- very graciously. I'm with you, Fakey!